Helpers--Roofers
Helpers--Roofers (SOC 47-3016) earn a median $44,160 a year ($21.23 an hour) in the United States, with 6,030 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Utah.
What helpers--roofers do
Roofer helpers support the roofing crew with duties requiring less skill, such as using, supplying and holding materials and tools and cleaning the work area and equipment. On a re-roof they remove old roofing materials, sweep and clean the roof to prepare it for new material, and locate worn or torn areas. They take materials and tools off work trucks and roll out roofing as directed, and cover roofs with layers of roofing felt or asphalt strips before tile, slate or composition materials are installed. After the roofing is placed, they check that the finished roof is watertight, and they clean the work area and maintain tools and equipment. Titles in the group include roofer helper, commercial roofing laborer and rooftop loader. Workers who mostly help other trades are classified with those trades' helpers, and general construction laborers are in 47-2061. Roofers (47-2181) are the skilled trade.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Commercial Roofing Helper, Commercial Roofing Laborer, Hot Tar Roofer Helper, Industrial Roofer Helper, Residential Roofer Helper.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.49 | $17.80 | $21.23 | $23.54 | $30.00 | $21.71 | 6,030 |
| Annual | $30,140 | $37,030 | $44,160 | $48,970 | $62,400 | $45,150 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where helpers--roofers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Utah | Hourly | $24.62 | $25.71 | $35.03 | $36.61 | $36.61 | $32.55 | 120 | 0.07 | 1.85 |
| Annual | $51,200 | $53,470 | $72,860 | $76,140 | $76,140 | $67,710 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $23.20 | $26.49 | $26.86 | $26.86 | $30.78 | $27.04 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $48,250 | $55,100 | $55,860 | $55,870 | $64,020 | $56,230 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.88 | $22.32 | $26.67 | $36.48 | $36.71 | $28.27 | 1,200 | 0.07 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $39,280 | $46,430 | $55,470 | $75,880 | $76,360 | $58,790 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $19.29 | $21.96 | $22.89 | $22.89 | $27.12 | $22.94 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $40,130 | $45,680 | $47,610 | $47,610 | $56,410 | $47,700 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $20.72 | $21.56 | $22.40 | $23.09 | $26.83 | $22.69 | 490 | 0.09 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $43,100 | $44,840 | $46,600 | $48,020 | $55,800 | $47,200 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.00 | $13.65 | $18.44 | $22.69 | $23.77 | $18.22 | 1,240 | 0.13 | 3.21 |
| Annual | $27,040 | $28,390 | $38,350 | $47,200 | $49,440 | $37,890 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.88 | $22.32 | $26.67 | $36.48 | $36.71 | $28.27 | 1,200 | 0.07 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $39,280 | $46,430 | $55,470 | $75,880 | $76,360 | $58,790 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.77 | $17.07 | $18.47 | $21.99 | $22.86 | $19.16 | 590 | 0.04 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $30,730 | $35,510 | $38,430 | $45,750 | $47,560 | $39,860 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $20.72 | $21.56 | $22.40 | $23.09 | $26.83 | $22.69 | 490 | 0.09 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $43,100 | $44,840 | $46,600 | $48,020 | $55,800 | $47,200 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $18.29 | $19.03 | $21.21 | $22.58 | $23.30 | $20.82 | 270 | 0.05 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $38,050 | $39,570 | $44,120 | $46,960 | $48,450 | $43,300 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.00 | $22.00 | $27.93 | $38.88 | $43.41 | $30.62 | 100 | 0.09 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $45,770 | $58,090 | $80,870 | $90,290 | $63,690 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $24.33 | $24.75 | $26.67 | $26.67 | $36.71 | $27.39 | 30 | 0.16 | 4.19 |
| Annual | $50,600 | $51,480 | $55,470 | $55,470 | $76,360 | $56,980 | ||||
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | $17.81 | $22.17 | $24.60 | $25.87 | $35.15 | $24.52 | 50 | 0.11 | 2.89 |
| Annual | $37,050 | $46,100 | $51,170 | $53,800 | $73,110 | $51,010 | ||||
| Canton-Massillon, OH | Hourly | $20.39 | $21.23 | $24.25 | $24.25 | $24.25 | $22.98 | 30 | 0.20 | 5.11 |
| Annual | $42,400 | $44,160 | $50,430 | $50,430 | $50,430 | $47,800 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $21.03 | $22.19 | $22.89 | $26.89 | $27.15 | $23.28 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,750 | $46,150 | $47,610 | $55,920 | $56,480 | $48,420 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $13.00 | $13.00 | $20.05 | $23.35 | $24.28 | $18.37 | 330 | 0.12 | 2.99 |
| Annual | $27,040 | $27,040 | $41,690 | $48,570 | $50,500 | $38,220 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $15.00 | $18.31 | $19.16 | $22.56 | $27.48 | $20.56 | 240 | 0.06 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $38,080 | $39,850 | $46,930 | $57,150 | $42,770 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $15.07 | $17.86 | $18.31 | $18.98 | $21.95 | $18.73 | 150 | 0.05 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $31,350 | $37,140 | $38,090 | $39,480 | $45,660 | $38,960 | ||||
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | Hourly | $13.00 | $15.74 | $19.05 | $19.94 | $23.85 | $18.21 | 140 | 0.46 | 11.84 |
| Annual | $27,040 | $32,740 | $39,620 | $41,480 | $49,600 | $37,880 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.41 | $20.51 | $22.49 | $25.00 | $30.00 | $23.22 | 130 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $42,440 | $42,670 | $46,780 | $52,000 | $62,400 | $48,290 | ||||
Top industries employing helpers--roofers
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors employ 94.9% of helpers--roofers nationally (5,720 jobs) at a median $44,380 a year ($21.34 an hour), followed by Building Equipment Contractors (1.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 5,720 | 94.9% | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 70 | 1.2% | $41,450 | $19.93 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (6,030). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,360 for helpers--roofers in May 2021 and $44,160 in May 2025, with employment of 6,830 and 6,030.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,360 | $17.48 | 6,830 |
| May 2022 | $37,020 | $17.80 | 5,790 |
| May 2023 | $38,620 | $18.57 | 4,540 |
| May 2024 | $40,590 | $19.51 | 5,170 |
| May 2025 | $44,160 | $21.23 | 6,030 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
26 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah profile | $35.03 | $72,860 | $51,200 | $76,140 | 120 | 0.07 | 1.85 |
| 2 | Colorado profile | $26.86 | $55,860 | $48,250 | $64,020 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | California profile | $26.67 | $55,470 | $39,280 | $76,360 | 1,200 | 0.07 | 1.70 |
| 4 | Georgia profile | $22.89 | $47,610 | $40,130 | $56,410 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Ohio profile | $22.40 | $46,600 | $43,100 | $55,800 | 490 | 0.09 | 2.29 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $22.13 | $46,030 | $25,810 | $47,110 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.71 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $21.40 | $44,520 | $40,690 | $49,000 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.76 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $21.31 | $44,330 | $42,390 | $46,470 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.97 |
| 9 | North Carolina profile | $21.21 | $44,120 | $38,050 | $48,450 | 270 | 0.05 | 1.41 |
| 10 | Louisiana profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $26,730 | $47,680 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.95 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $20.51 | $42,670 | $36,270 | $52,000 | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | Iowa profile | $20.50 | $42,650 | $40,810 | $43,680 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $20.07 | $41,750 | $37,480 | $58,490 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $19.87 | $41,320 | $39,350 | $44,560 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
| 15 | Oklahoma profile | $18.73 | $38,950 | $35,550 | $42,060 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.99 |
| 16 | Texas profile | $18.47 | $38,430 | $30,730 | $47,560 | 590 | 0.04 | 1.09 |
| 17 | Tennessee profile | $18.45 | $38,380 | $23,600 | $47,600 | 160 | 0.05 | 1.23 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $18.44 | $38,350 | $27,040 | $49,440 | 1,240 | 0.13 | 3.21 |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $18.20 | $37,860 | $23,210 | $53,820 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.50 |
| 20 | Alabama profile | $18.11 | $37,670 | $36,810 | $43,680 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.79 |
| 21 | New Mexico profile | $18.10 | $37,640 | $28,090 | $53,860 | 130 | 0.15 | 3.76 |
| 22 | Nevada profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $34,230 | $39,670 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.52 |
| 23 | Arkansas profile | $17.29 | $35,950 | $24,280 | $45,760 | 110 | 0.09 | 2.27 |
| 24 | Missouri profile | $17.21 | $35,800 | $31,350 | $36,060 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | Maryland profile | $16.75 | $34,830 | $31,660 | $47,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | Mississippi profile | $14.95 | $31,090 | $29,740 | $34,040 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-3010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-3016 Helpers--Roofers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-3016, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-3016.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.